Thread tensioning device



April 16, 1935.

J. A. WILLIAMS THREAD TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1934 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES THREAD TENSIONING DEVICE tion of New Jersey Application January 18, 1931i, Serial No. 707,164

8 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to certain improvements in thread tensioning devices for use with textile machinery and particularly to devices of this kind in which the thread is drawn over a friction member as it passes toward the machine, the tension on the thread being varied by changing the extent to which the thread contacts with the surface of said member.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tensioning device of this kind in which the degree of tension on the thread may be readily changed by a simple manipulation of the device by the hand of the operator and without the necessity of employing any tools for that purpose.

A further object is to provide a device of this character in which the extent of contact between the thread and friction member may be readily changed by simply rotating the friction member to any desired position, after which it will be automatically locked in the position to which it is adjusted.

The foregoing and other objects are obtained by the arrangement described in the following speciiication and illustrated in the accompanying o drawing, it being understood that modifications in the details of the device may be resorted to Within the scope of the invention.

In said drawing,

Figure 1 is a side view of the device;

Figure 2 is a view of the right hand end of the device showing some of the parts in different positions;

Figure 3 is a View of the left hand end of the device;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view.

ferring to the drawing in detail, the device in question comprises a friction member I which, in the form shown, is made up of an outer tubular portion Ilia formed preferably of porcelain or other suitable material and inner bearing portions Ib rigidly secured in the outer portion. The friction member Il) is rotatably mounted on a stationary support or spindle II which is rigidly bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a suitable stationary part I2 such as the frame of the machine. A stationary arm I3 extends laterally beyond one end of the friction member I0, the inner end of this arm preferably being rigidly attached to the spindle II although it may be attached to any other rigid support. The outer end of the arm I3 carries a stationary thread guide I4 which is positioned laterally of one end of the friction member Ill. A movable arm I5 is secured to and extends laterally of the other end of the member I0, and this arm at its outer end carries a thread guide I6. As the friction member it is rotated on its support the position of the arm l5 and thread guide i6 will, of course, be changed as illustrated in Figure 2. The thread indicated at T in Figure l is arranged to pass through the guide I5, around the friction member Il), and through the guide Ill.

It Will be apparent that by changing the position of the arm I5 and guide i6, that is, by rotating it about the axis of the friction member It), the extent of contact of the thread with the friction member I Ei may be increased or decreased and as a result the tension of the thread may be varied. Thus if the member it and arm I5 and guide I6 be rotated to the right from the central position indicated in Figure 2 the extent of contact of the thread with the friction member IU will be decreased and the tension on the thread decreased. Rotation of these parts in the opposite direction will increase the tension of the thread.

To enable the friction member lil, arm I5 and guide I6 to be locked in any desired position of rotary adjustment, one of the bearing portions Ib of said member is provided with a head il having a ange or locking member l 3 provided with a series of radial notches or depressions i9. The locking member I3 is arranged adjacent the stationary arm i3, which forms a stationary locking member, so that any one of the notches I 9 may be engaged over this arm whereby the fric.- tion member IB is locked in position. The friction member ID is longitudinally movable to a limited extent on the spindle II, but such longitudinal movement is resisted by a coiled spring 2i) surrounding the spindle i I and bearing at one end against a nut ZI, threaded on the spindle, and at the other end against a washer 22 which presses against the end of the friction member Il). This arrangement permits limited movement of the friction member l longitudinally of the spindle II, and such movement permits disengagement of the locking member i3 from the arm i3, and when the parts are thus disengaged, it will be apparent that the friction member I may be rotated in either direction to any extent desired.

In operation when it is desired to change the tension on the thread, it is only necessary to grasp the friction member IU or the arm l5 and draW the same outwardly toward the end of the spindle against the tension of the spring 2li. This will disengage the locking member IS from the arm I3 and the member i El along with the arm I5, and thread guide Ili may then be swung or rotated in a direction to increase or decrease the extent of contact of the thread With the surface of the friction member and thereby vary the tension on the thread. After the parts are thus rotated to the extent desired one of the notches I9 in the spring pressed locking member I8 will engage the arm or locking member I3 to hold the parts in their adjusted position.

It will thus be apparent that the device can be easily and quickly manipulated so that the operator may at any time vary the degree of tension on the threads and this may be done without the use of tools and without interfering With or stopping the passage of the thread toward the machine.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A thread tensioning device comprising, in combination, a friction member over which the thread is adapted to be drawn, a stationary thread guide arranged laterally of and adjacent to one end of said member, a movable thread guide arranged laterally of and adjacent to the other end of said member, said last named guide being adjustable in an arc about the axis of said member, and spring pressed locking means rigidly connected to and movable with said last named guide and arranged to lock said guide in any one of a plurality of positions as it is adjusted about the axis of said member.

2. A thread tensioning device comprising, in combination, a friction member over which the thread is adapted to be drawn, a stationary thread guide arranged laterally of and adjacent to one end of said member, an adjustable arm mounted adjacent to and extending laterally of the other end of said member and supported to swing about the axis thereof, a thread guide carried by said arm, and spring pressed locking means rigidly connected to and movable with said arm and arranged to lock said arm in any one of a plurality of positions as the arm is swung about its axis of support.

3. A thread tensioning device comprising, in combination, a friction member over which a thread is adapted to be drawn, a stationary thread guide arranged laterally of and adjacent to one end of said member, an arm arranged adjacent to and extending laterally of the other end of said member, means for supporting said arm for pivotal movement about the axis of said member, a second thread guide carried by said arm, a movable locking member rigidly connected to and movable with said arm as the same is adjusted about its pivotal support, a stationary locking member, interengaging means on said locking members, and a spring for yieldingly holding said locking members in engagement in any desired position of adjustment.

4. In a thread tensioning device, in combination, a friction member over which the thread is adapted to be drawn, a support for said member on which the same is rotatably adjustable, a stationary thread guide arranged adjacent to and laterally of one end of said member, an arm secured to the other end of said member and extending laterally thereof, a second thread guide carried by said arm, and spring pressed means for locking said member in any one of a plurality of positions as the same is rotatably adjusted on said support.

5. In a thread tensioning device, in combination, a friction member over which a thread is adapted to be drawn, a support on which said member is rotatably mounted to permit adjustment thereof, a stationary thread guide arranged adjacent to and laterally of one end of said friction member, an arm secured to the other end of said friction member and extending laterally thereof, a second thread guide carried by said arm, a movable locking member secured to said friction member, a stationary locking member, interengaging means on said locking members, and a spring for yieldingly holding said locking members in engagement.

6. In a thread tensioning device, in combination, a friction member over which a thread is adapted to be drawn, a spindle on which said member is rotatably supported to permit adjustment thereof, a stationary thread guide arranged adjacent to and laterally of one end of said member, an arm secured to the other end of said friction member and extending laterally thereof, a thread guide carried by said arm, and spring pressed means for locking said friction member in any one of a plurality of positions as the same is rotated on said spindle.

'7. In a thread tensioning device, in combination, a friction member over which a thread is adapted to be drawn, a spindle on which said member is rotatably supported, a stationary thread guide arranged adjacent to and laterally of one end of said friction member, an arm secured to the other end of said friction member and extending laterally thereof, a thread guide mounted on said arm, a movable locking member carried by and rotatable with said friction member, a stationary locking member cooperating with said movable locking member, said friction member being axially movable on said spindle to effect disengagement of said locking members and permit rotation of said friction member on said spindle, and a spring opposing said axial movement of said friction member.

8. In a thread tensioning device, in combination, a friction member over which a thread is adapted to be drawn, a stationary spindle on which said member is rotatably supported, an arm secured to said spindle and extending laterally thereof and laterally of one end of said friction member, a thread guide carried by said arm, a second arm secured to the other end of said friction member and extending laterally thereof, a thread guide carried by said second arm, a movable locking member secured to and rotatable with said friction member, said movable locking member having a plurality of notches for engaging said first named arm. to hold said friction member in any desired position of adjustment, and a spring for yieldingly holding said locking member in engagement with said first named arm.

JOHN A. WILLIAMS. 

